It's nothing to get steamed up about!
I start this post with a good news announcement for my loyal ones and for anyone new to this blog and the CSQ Know How section. The good news is that Combi Steam or Convection Steam ovens really are becoming more and more “normal”. Having been around in the domestic Australian appliance market for a while now, (let’s say a conservative 10 years), more and more people are becoming familiar with the concept and are ensuring that they are included in their new kitchen builds, updates and renovations. And this is such good news for this Queen. I truly believe that a good Combi Steam oven can be a life changer for almost anyone who likes to cook or has plans to become someone who likes to cook. And, if you can’t cook or hate cooking they can make the “task” simpler and easier so that’s a plus too!
From my experience working with those considering the idea of a Combi Steam, I know that it can be a little overwhelming - even scary at times. It really is such a human instinct to be a little wary of, or nervous about, something new. There are people who make a career out of helping people adapt to and embrace change, so it’s definitely natural to be unsure about embracing a completely new concept or way of doing things. I think the first step is just taking a deep breath and acknowledging that this feeling is completely OK! The next step, after the deep breath has been calmly exhaled, is to be open to learning more.
Having demonstrated these wonderful kitchen appliances, I know that once you take that step to embrace the possibility, you are almost there. You will find that most of the good quality brands will offer a demonstration experience in either their own showroom or within a retail store that sells the products. This is usually the best first step. You can see it in action. You can ask questions. You can usually have a taste of some of the results and see things cooked in real time to get a sense of what is possible and how simply it can be done. And a good demonstrator is not usually there to “sell” - they are there to share and to educate. It’s about providing information so that you can go away and consider everything and make an informed decision.
There are some key considerations for most potential Combi Steamers when they begin doing the research. These are most often:
price point
features and functions
design
quality
warranty
technology
ease of use
It is absolutely imperative to put at least some thought into all of these things and a demonstration will certainly help you do that. I would also recommend doing some internet browsing and looking at videos, blogs and brand websites to find out more. For many the thinking will, naturally, begin at the price point consideration. Whilst that’s important, I would also encourage you to correlate this with ease of use, technology and quality. Whilst in the moment, saving some money may seem important, in my experience once an appliances is in your home and in everyday (often multiple times a day) use, you very quickly forget about any potential spend if it adds real value to your life in areas like ease of use, improved eating habits and nutrition, convenience and time saving. My advice would be to consider stretching the budget if you can to consider something at the higher end of the market, especially if you can immediately sense the benefits of what it offers over and above a less expensive option. Ease of use will become a much more important piece of the puzzle once you have it in your home and ready to use.
When it comes to using the Steam, not everything is the same. For me, the more “manual” the settings are, the more involved you will need to be in understanding your appliance to get the results you want when you cook. Combi Steam ovens that require you to select a “level” or a percentage of Steam or humidity when cooking, are always going to be a little more complicated to use. That is certainly not to say that you can’t still achieve incredible results. You can, but you will have to put a little more thought into it, take a few more steps when setting up your oven (choosing a function, a temperature and a steam/humidity level) and be willing to experiment a little more to get it just right. It’s just something to be mindful of when making your choice.
The way the Steam is produced in the appliance and “added” to the oven is also worth thinking through. A more premium product will usually have more involved technology and engineering behind the scenes with an external boiler that creates the steam and pressurises it before pushing it into the oven. There may even be sensors inside the oven that read and maintain the moisture levels as you cook to keep the balance of steam just right. In less technical (and usually less expensive) options the steam may be produced inside the oven cavity simply by heating water with an element, and whilst this will add additional moisture to your food, it is certainly less controlled and can provide varied results. It will be less “set and forget” and a little more “hope for the best”.
Something that is not always on every potential Combi Steamer’s list when purchasing is the support offered by the brand after you buy. Sometimes called Post Purchase support, this may not be so necessary when you are in the buying phase, but once your new investment is home and waiting to be used it will almost certainly become something you need. Having a look at the various brand websites, recipe resources and asking about the demonstrations and customer service offered down the track it also worth doing. Usually a more premium product will also be accompanied by a more planned and supported approach to customers once they have bought and installed. The warranty is also part of this thinking as you want to be assured that you get what you pay for and that you have a simple point of contact should you encounter any issues along the way.
Overall however, in my humbly royal opinion, adding the benefits of steam to your oven is always going to be a good thing. Take the time to be open to the options and do the research by visiting a retail store, attending demonstrations, reading and watching online before making a decision. Regardless of what choice you make, if you know you were informed you will always be happier with the outcome. We want to avoid any sense of “buyers remorse” by knowing that you ticked all the boxes and made the best choice having done the research.
And then, once you have your product installed, take up the opportunity to revisit the demonstration so that you can take the information home and put it into practice, while also watching relevant brand videos and reading recipes. Once the user journey begins you will again need to be ready to explore something new and be open to a few failures, or “room for improvement” results, before you really start feeling comfortable. But there is no substitute for getting in there and giving it a go, pressing buttons, playing with settings and trying new things. So don’t get steamed up - just breathe and embrace the ride and before you know it you will be Combi Steam cooking with the best of them and feeding friends and family like a Queen (or King).
Don’t forget that my downloadable instructions are also here to lend a hand along the way.
Happy Combi Steaming!
Yours in the kitchen,
The CSQ. x